USB Type-A Connector Uses and Compatibility

Everything you need to know about the USB-A connector

By
Tim Fisher
Photo of Tim Fisher, Lifewire GM and Writer
Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University

Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.

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Updated on May 9, 2021
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
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Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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USB Type-A connectors, officially called Standard-A connectors, are flat and rectangular in shape. Type A is the "original" USB connector and is the most recognizable and commonly used connector.

USB Type-A connectors are supported in every USB version, including USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and USB 1.1.

USB 3.0 Type-A connectors are often, but not always, the color blue. USB 2.0 Type-A and USB 1.1 Type-A connectors are often, but not always, black.

The part of the USB Type-A cord that plugs into a device is called the plug or a connector and the part that accepts the plug is called the receptacle but is commonly referred to as the port.

USB-A connectors on Mice, keyboards, flash drives, and remote controls
Lifewire / Tim Liedtke

USB Type-A Uses

USB Type-A ports/receptacles are found on almost any modern computer-like device that can act as a USB host, including, of course, computers of all kinds including desktops, laptops, netbooks, and many tablets.

USB Type-A ports are also found on other computer-like devices like video game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Wii, etc.), home audio/video receivers, "smart" televisions, DVRs, streaming players (Roku, etc.), DVD and Blu-ray players, and more.

Most USB Type-A plugs are found at one end of many different kinds of USB cables, each designed to connect the host device to some other device that also supports USB, usually via a different USB connector type like Micro-B or Type-B.

USB Type-A plugs are also found at the end of cables that are hard-wired into a USB device. This is typically how USB keyboards, mice, joysticks, and similar devices are designed.

Some USB devices are so small that the cable isn't necessary. In those cases, a USB Type-A plug is integrated directly into the USB device. The common flash drive is a perfect example.

USB Type-A Compatibility

The USB Type-A connectors outlined in all three USB versions share basically the same form factor. This means that the USB Type-A plug from any USB version will fit into the USB Type-A receptacle from any other USB version and vice versa.

That said, there are some significant differences between USB 3.0 Type-A connectors and those from USB 2.0 and USB 1.1.

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What is USB 3.0?

USB 3.0 Type-A connectors have nine pins, considerably more than the four pins that make up USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 Type-A connectors. These additional pins are used to enable the faster data transfer rate found in USB 3.0 but they are placed in the connectors in a way that does not prevent them from physically working with Type-A connectors from the previous USB standards.

See the USB Physical Compatibility Chart for a graphical representation of physical compatibility between USB connectors.

Just because the Type-A connector from one USB version fits in the Type A connector from another USB version does not mean that the connected devices will work at the highest speed, or even at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What's the difference between USB Type-A and USB-C? The USB-C is newer, slimmer, and more powerful than USB-A. Also, USB-C can potentially handle higher data-transfer speeds and is versatile, with Thunderbolt 3 compatibility. Another difference is that USB-C cables are reversible, which means there's no "up" or "down" side; you can just plug them in.
  • My USB-A connector isn't working. Can it be fixed? Possibly. There are a number of troubleshooting steps to try to fix a malfunctioning USB-A port or connector. Hardware fixes include checking for debris or a loose connection, or you could be experiencing a software error that requires updating your system or rebooting.
  • Is USB-A going away? While USB-C is newer and more versatile, many consumers and devices still rely on USB-A cabling and connectors. USB-A isn't going anywhere for a long while.
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